The nation’s capital has undergone a pretty incredible transformation in the last decade or so. Not that far back, commuters headed out to Virginia and Maryland as soon as possible after a day in the District. Now, Washington D.C. has turned into one of the best cities for young professionals. People now want to stay, not escape. Cultural attractions, a growing menswear culture, surprisingly diverse nightlife, and an exciting restaurant scene are all reasons why you might want to spend a few days getting to know Washington D.C. Here’s how to make the most of a visit to the District.
Style
- Colorful Chinos, OCBD’s, and all things preppy – Yes. While DC is the capitol for our entire country, geographically it lies on the East coast, and many of the residents’ style reflect a distinctively preppy flavor.
- Polyester – No. A general rule for sure, but D.C. is humid year round, and brutal in the summer.
- Layers – Yes. The weather is as much Boston as it is South Carolina… depending on the season. The temps are unpredictable year round.
- Your “nice” suit – Yes. Unlike most places around the country, DC is still largely a business (not business-casual) town. That means lots of guys know how to wear a suit, tie, and a nice pair of dress shoes. Don’t be afraid to bring along that suit you usually only wear for special occasions. It’s standard-wear here.
- A“going out” outfit – No. The majority of DC’s nightlife (With notable exceptions. See below) leans heavily casual. While this is no excuse to not dress well, you also don’t have to worry about wearing a blazer to dinner or designer jeans to the bar.
- A tuxedo – Yes. If you are the type to plan ahead and are looking for an excuse to wear your tux, DC is known for hosting a variety of black-tie events.
- An umbrella – The District is built on a swamp and it experiences a variety of precipitation year-round.
- Comfortable shoes – Yes. DC is a dense city designed long before the horseless carriage took all the fun out of a leisurely stroll. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the District. Bring at least one pair of shoes that will allow you to stay on your feet for extended periods of time.
- Go clothes shopping – Yes. For the many Dappered readers who mostly or exclusively shop for clothes online, visiting well-stocked stores can be a fun trip outside the comfort zone. I recommend visiting both local branches of major brands, like SuitSupply and the Brooks Brothers Slim Fit Only shop. Also check out a few local clothing purveyors, such as Hugh and Crye for great shirts, and if you’re willing to splurge on a custom suit, Brimble and Clarke can make you one for around $800.
Getting around (& looking good) in D.C. is easy.
Travel & Accommodations
- Summer trips – No. While summer is travel season and many of America’s patriotic holidays fall between late May and early September, summer in DC is frequently hot, humid, and overcrowded with tourists.
- Spring and Fall – Yes. The more temperate months of the year bring not only better weather, but also fewer crowds, limiting your exposure to 7th graders who haven’t quite figured out how to use deodorant.
- Flying into DCA – Consider No. While Reagan Airport (DCA) is by far the closest and most conveniently located for access to the District (located on the Metrorail’s Yellow and Blue lines), it is also a small facility and you often pay a premium to fly in and out. Explore flight options out of Dulles and Baltimore-Washington Airports. While they are further from the District, there is easy public transportation access from both. The 5A Metrobus (which runs every 40 minutes from approximately 6AM to midnight seven days a week) will take you from Dulles Airport to L’Enfant Metrorail Station in the heart of DC or Rosslyn Metrorail Station in northern Virginia for $6 per passenger. The trip from Dulles to the District will take approximately 45-60 minutes depending on traffic. The Penn line of the MARC train (a commuter rail system which serves Washington, DC and Maryland) provides service between Union Station in central DC and the BWI Marshall Rail Station, where free shuttles serve the airport terminal. The MARC train between BWI and Union Station takes approximately 40 minutes and also costs $6. It runs Monday through Friday from approximately 5AM to 9:30PM. There is a train every 30 minutes. On weekends, an Amtrak train services the same route between 6AM and midnight for $15-$40 depending on the time of day. For most of the day, the Amtrak trains run every 30 minutes. Does that mean flying into Regan is a terrible idea? Absolutely not. But there are other options.
- Renting a car – No. Unless you plan to venture significantly outside the DC metro area, there is no need for a car. DC has excellent public transportation that reaches out to the near suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, and short-term car rental options such as Zipcar and Car2Go are widely available.
- Rent a Capital Bikeshare – Yes. Capital Bikeshare is DC’s bike sharing program and you can purchase access to the city’s many bike rental kiosks for a day, week, or month at a very reasonable fee. If weather cooperates, exploring the city by bike is both efficient and lots of fun.
- Staying only in the District – No. Unlike a lot of cities’ suburbs, many of the areas surrounding DC proper are just as exciting as the District itself. Some of the area’s best attractions and most scenic neighborhoods lie in Northern Virginia (such as Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, and Old Town Alexandria) and in Maryland (such as Annapolis).
- Hailing cabs – No. DC cabs, all too frequently, are dirty and in poor condition. Drivers can be unreliable, have been known to rip off those who don’t know the city, and are less than excited about accepting credit cards. Stick to Uber, and its cheaper alternative UberX.
Get to know the DC Metro. Photo Credit: Chris Phan
Food & Drink
- Traditional DC restaurants – No. Until the last decade or so, DC’s dining scene leaned heavily on wood-paneled steak or seafood restaurants that catered to tourists and those dining on an expense-account, leading to boring menus, inflated prices, and mediocre service.
- Innovative DC restaurants – Yes. In the last decade DC’s dining scene has evolved dramatically, with an explosion of exceptional, reasonably-priced restaurants. For innovative takes on traditional ethnic cuisines try Rasika for Indian, Jaleo for Spanish tapas, and Oyamel for Mexican. Founding Farmers is worth a visit for sophisticated, locally-sourced takes on your childhood favorites. Hank’s Oyster Bar has not only a large variety of oysters that change daily, but also spectacular cocktails.
- Ethiopian Restaurants – Yes. DC has a huge ethnic Ethiopian population. Fun Fact: More individuals of Ethiopian descent live in DC than any other city in the world other than Addis Ababa. DC has a spectacular selection of Ethiopian restaurants as a result. Recommendations: Ethiopic on H St NE and Dukem Ethiopian on U St NW.
- Ben’s Chili Bowl – No. Endorsed by both Bill Cosby and Barack Obama, Ben’s is probably DC’s most famous restaurant, and has the long lines to show for it. It’s particularly popular as a late- night post-going out snack. Despite Mr. Huxtables’ endorsement, Ben’s signature half smoke (essentially a chili dog) is mediocre at best.
- Fast Gourmet and Amsterdam Falafel – Yes. Locally famous for their giant grilled panini and falafel sandwiches, respectively, these two late-night dining spots live up to the reputation.
- Speakeasy/Underground Supper Clubs – Yes. As DC’s dining and drinking scene has become more sophisticated, a number of underground bars and dining establishments have sprung up in recent years. The Columbia Room near the Convention Center and Harold Black in Eastern Market have particularly good drinks and knowledgeable bartenders. If you are in town for an underground supper conducted by the chef at Chez Le Commis (check the site for schedule), it’s the best value in gourmet dining in the city (Full disclosure: the chef is a personal friend).
- Lime Ricky – Yes. Invented in DC, this cocktail is often described as “air conditioning in a glass.” Competes with a cold, refreshing beer for the best thing to have in your hand during a warm DC afternoon.
- Late night drinking – No. In DC, most bars and clubs close down around 3AM and start to get quiet around 2. If you are looking for a “sun coming up, 5AM” kind of evening, for better or worse, DC isn’t that city.
- Happy hour drinking – Yes. A city where everyone is always “networking”, DC has a great happy hour scene. Particularly if you are traveling for business, check out the local watering hole before heading back to your hotel. Recommendations: Vinoteca on U St. for a great wine happy hour, Bullfeather’s near the Capitol Building to mingle with Congressional staff, and Co Co Sala for their “chocolate and bubbles” happy hour if you are with your lady friend.
The restaurant scene has evolved far beyond the previous
reputation for steak and cigar dinners in wood-paneled backrooms.
Sights & Sounds
- Going for a run on the Mall – Yes. The National Mall is probably the only running trail in America where in the space of a few miles, you can enjoy some of the nation’s most treasured monuments (Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial). If you have some extra gas in the tank, I strongly encourage you to explore some of the more out of the way, but equally impressive memorials on the Mall (MLK Memorial, FDR Memorial, Vietnam Memorial).
- Evening in Adams Morgan – No. Commonly referred to as the Bourbon Street of DC, this Northwest neighborhood’s main strip is known for a dense group of bars that all, to varying degrees, resemble a mediocre fraternity party. Unless you have a particular hankering for sticky floors, drunk underage college kids, and well liquor, stay away. A notable exception (if dive bars are your thing) is Dan’s, one of DC’s few true dives where drinks are served out of ketchup squirt bottles.
- Evening on U St./14th St. – Yes. In recent years, the U St. and 14th St. corridors have blossomed into the epicenter of DC’s dining and nightlife. There is a wide variety of great bars (try Marvin for great music and excellent roof deck), music venues (Rolling Stone recently named U Street Music Hall one of the best dance clubs in America) and restaurants (too many to list, but Bistro La Bonne has incredible, reasonably priced French cuisine).
- Free Museums – Yes. DC has more amazing free museums than you could fit into a weekend, or a week, or a month. Whether your interests lie in technology (Smithsonian Air and Space), history (the National Archives house the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights), or art (National Portrait Gallery), DC has world class museums that won’t cost you a dime.
- Paid Museum – No. Sustained by the constant flow of tourists, DC boasts an incredible amount of overpriced museums that will offer you little more than the opportunity to spend some quality time around sweaty preteens and their annoyed parents. There is one notable exception…
- The Newseum – Yes. Although it’s pricey and often crowded, the Newseum (a museum focused on the history and industry of documenting current events) is generally considered one of, if not the, best museum in DC. Check out a chunk of the Berlin Wall, the satellite antennae from the top of the World Trade Center, and an exhibit telling the story of every photograph to have won the Pulitzer Prize.
- White House Tour- No. Today it is actually impossible to get a tour of the President’s humble abode due to Sequester-related budget cuts. (UPDATE: And like that, on the day this post goes live, they’re back open for tours) But even if/when tours do return, they are generally mediocre, require booking far in advance, and essentially consist of a walk around a couple rooms in the East Wing and a hallway filled with photographs of the First Family. Instead opt for…
- Capitol Building tour. – Yes. Easy to walk in and get the tour with some of the expert tour guides (look out for folks in the red coats) of the building where Congress does (or doesn’t) do its work. The tours are free, filled with excellent trivia about the nation’s history, and an opportunity to check out one of the truly awe-inspiring buildings in the District, and the country.
- Georgetown on the weekends – No. Colonial and stylish, Georgetown is probably the city’s most iconic neighborhood. Come Saturday and Sunday afternoons, though, it is also the city’s most crowded. While Georgetown’s main drag (M St.) is definitely worth a stroll, try and make it over to GT during the week when the crush of tourists dissipates.
- Eastern Market on the weekends – Yes. Located only a few blocks from the Capitol, Eastern Market combines a farmers market, flea and antique market, and an indoor grocery market-café space. A great place to stroll through on a weekend morning and pick up some groceries or a unique souvenir.
On the weekends, skip Georgetown and instead visit the Eastern Market.
The author, Serge E., settled in DC after stints in Moscow (he could see Russia from his house), Chicago, London, and Boston. He came for a career in politics and policy, and stayed for the happy hours. He also loves exploring the District’s many up and coming bars, restaurants, and stores.
Are you familiar with a city that should get it’s own yes/no guide here on Dappered? Tell us who you are and why you think you’ve got the right perspective to write one, here.
Eh. Misses a lot (though does thankfully pass on a nod to Old Ebbitt Grill). Reads like it was written by someone who spent a summer in DC interning.
Great article Dappered team. I just noticed that you mentioned WH tours are currently impossible to get. Actually, because of the shutdown deal, WH tours are now open to the public again, though with limited availability.
Taco lady is also quite the experience: http://www.yelp.com/biz/taqueria-juquilita-washington
I also would recommend the State Dept Diplomatic Reception Rooms for tourists. They are pretty off the beaten path but are super cool. https://receptiontours.state.gov/
Okay, I want to see one of these for Seattle, just for the style section. I want to see Dappered folk laugh when “Hoodies – yes” shows up.
As a DMV native I vehemntly disagree with the “No” rating for DCA. DCA is the best airport to fly in to and out of due to its proximity to the district. Dulles is 30 miles west of the Distict, BWI 35 miles to the Northeast, whereas DCA is literally across the river from DC. The DCA runway is on one side of the banks, and the monuments are on the other. You literally see the monuments when you look out your plane window
There is not easy public access from Dulles and BWI. Dulles won’t have metro for another 3-5 years. BWI has marc train close by but you have to wait for a shuttle, then wait for the train, and then you have a 40 min train ride to union station. A cab ride from Dulles or BWi to downtown is $80 to $100. You also have to face DC’s awful traffic head on. A cab from DCA to downtown is $25 and 10 minutes. Double that cost differntial and add it to your roundtrip airfare. Also, DCA already has its own metro station and is 5 metro stops and less than $3 away from downtown. DCA is also swarming with taxis and Ubers. Uber x is awesome, but they tend to stay in the downtown area.
Since DCA is smaller, you can also get in to and out of it easier. You could walk miles wandering through dulles and BWI.
As a DC resident, I hate capital bike share. More bikers (especially tourists) is the last thing we need. . .
The wifey and I were in DC last summer, and we heard about Old Ebbitt
Grill. Their happy hour included a half price raw seafood bar, and being
the oyster lovers we are, we decided to go. Needless to say, we ate
lunch there during happy hour 3 straight days. The seafood was awesome, the drinks were awesome, the bartenders were super
nice, the people were very friendly and talkative, we got to meet a
bunch of people and got some more tips for places to go/see from the
locals. TLDR; eat there.
Agreed. National is great and shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand given the alternatives.
Oh another favourite food spot was Granville Moores. Their specialty is Moulles Frites, and their beer selection was awesome. It ended up being a decent walk from the subway, and we encountered a few sketchy people along the way (i would cab there knowing what i know now) but the food/drinks were totally worth it!
Sir-
Your claim on DCA being a poor choice is utterly in error. I fly out of DCA three times a month and know from experience. There is no mass transit to speak from either Dulles or BWI without multiple modes of transit. Please correct this error before you lead tourists astray.
Old Ebbitt isn’t on my list for tourists though it is good I think the food overall is average. Great spot though. Granville is great though and might have the best Belgian beer selection in the city.
I get that tourists can be inconvenient at times but have you never visited another city and gotten in a local’s way? Bike share is a great way to get from point A to point B. Those segway tours are another story, however.
Ya the TLDR should have been; if you love seafood, do happy hour there. For dinner there were a ton of more interesting places to go.
A few quibbles and additions to your article.
Nailed the style portion. I’d add that DC is at heart a Southern town. Also DC wasn’t technically built on a swamp (urban legend) but given the average humidity it might as well have been.
I’d skip Founding Farmer’s and Jaleo (the former isn’t that good the latter is good but not spectacular). Toki Underground has phenomenal ramen (I prefer it to Daikaya) and is worth the wait. Belga Cafe might be one of the best mussels and frites places in town. Thai X-ing is some of the best Thai food I’ve had and is a great experience (similar to the Taco Lady). You can’t mention DC without pho. Pho 15 is great (and is the only place that has passable vegetarian broth) but head out to the Eden Center in Falls Church for even more of the real deal.
For an upscale fancy dinner I’d recommend Le Diplomate, Ripple, Blue Duck Tavern, Red Hen, Vidalia or Etto. Little Serow is great if you can get a table.
Eastern Market is great and the used book store there is the bookworm’s wet dream. Acqua al 2 is also in the neighborhood and is great for pasta. But I’d also recommend Union Market. Developed around the city’s old warehouse district traditional, wholesale vendors coexist with a new market selling wares such as meat, salumi, produce, fine cheeses, bread and more. Lots of great places to grab a quick bite and they have a series of drive-in movie nights, projecting a movie on the building’s white facade.
DC has also exploded with craft breweries lately after decades of no production breweries in city limits. DC Brau is leading the charge (great IPA’s), as well as 3 Stars (saisons and porters), Chocolate City, and the brand new Atlas Brew Works and the brand new Bluejacket. Outside the city is Port City (they won a ton of medals at the GABF), Flying Dog, Heavy Seas and more. All are worth a visit. Green Hat gin distillery also recently opened.
And of course you can’t talk DC without brunch. We didn’t invent waking up hungover and eating but we did perfect it. My picks are La Forchette, Ted’s Bulletin and Old Tabbard Inn.
I think that’s it. I know there are a lot of Dappered readers from DC. (we had talked about a meetup at one time, can we get that going again?) I’m interested to hear your thoughts.
Fair points. We had the author, Serge, clarify and the post has been updated. Seems like it’ll be worth it to some to explore both options (flying into DCA or flying into Dulles/BWI)
On a recent trip to DC, we were scheduled to fly into DCA, but due to delays we got put on a flight that got into Dulles. We got to where we were staying just fine, but we also had someone to pick us up.
I, personally, don’t like to screw around once the plane touches down. So I’m more likely to pay a bit more to get closer to where I want to be. But I understand the other side too.
Updated!
This is a great writeup, guys. I’ve lived here 4 or 5 years and while none of it is new to me it’s actually a terrific primer to the city for someone visiting. I will take exception to one thing:
TakEatEasy in dupont (19th and M) is owned by the fast gourmet guys (they sold fast gourmet) and it’s everything fast gourmet was and WAY more. It’s my favorite hidden gem in the city. Great happy hour, too.
Couldn’t disagree with you more, as our Bikeshare has encouraged many other cities to adopt it, and it is wildly successful. More bikes on the street means its safer for cyclists, there are fewer people in cars, and there is a calming effect on traffic. I’d love to see DC become more European in this way with even more bicycle infrastructure and more people getting around town by bike, and CaBi contributes greatly to that culture.
As good as Old Ebbitt is, I can’t believe anyone would eat at the same place in a new city three days in a row. You missed so many other great restaurants, not to mention DC’s food truck scene!
Yep, DCA is the way to go. The Metro stop is one hell of a hike from Terminal A though so check a the terminal map and consider an Uber (or taxi) if you’re flying in/out of there.
Relying on a bicycle to tour DC would be positively miserable. Stick to a combination of walking and the Metro (and get an app for your phone to assist you with that).
The Columbia Room’s tasting menu is an awesome experience but plan on making reservations a month out if you want any selection of seating times.
I live 10 minutes from Dulles (IAD) so I always fly out of there and it is usually a bit cheaper. If I was visiting DC though, I’d definitely suggest flying in to DCA. It’s way too inconvenient to fly to Dulles and try to make your way out to DC. Whereas with DCA you walk across the parking lot to the metro station.
I don’t visit a lot of the nicer restaurants so I enjoy places like Ben’s Chili Bowl. If you go at the right time lines aren’t so bad. Another one I’d highly recommend checking out is Pollo Rico. It’s a Peruvian chicken place near Clarendon. It’s by far the best Peruvian chicken you will eat.
I agree, the Spy Museum is great and you can find discount tickets on GoldStar.com (currently more than 50% off).
I highly recommend breakfast at the Old Ebbitt, if you are into spotting politicos. I almost always see someone famous there having a breakfast meeting.
Old Ebbitt buffalo wings double dipped are awesome. But yeah, so many other options that 3 in a row would be overkill.
I agree with you on skipping Founding Farmer’s and Jaleo. I am actually going to Thai X-ing tonight for the first time. I have heard very good things, and unlike Little Serow they offer reservations.
The beer scene here is amazing. The folks behind Bluejacket have a beer bar on 14th that is consider by some to be the best in the country.
Yeah, Dulles sucks. I’ll take DCA or BWI over Dulles anyday.
I’m a little surprised that out of all the places to go on 18th st (Adam’s Morgan) you picked Dan’s. What about Black Squirrel, Perry’s, Mintwood, Meze, etc? Yeah, plenty of terrible bars to avoid, but also plenty of cool places.
+1 for Harold Black. Get the tasting menu (might end up with a shot of Absinthe…).
Another cool place on U St (if you like dancing) is Tropicalia.
Feel free to skip Eastern Market and go to Union Market (if you’re hipper than the hipsters).
Skip Jaleo and hit up La Tasca (Chinatown) for small plates, Sangria and live music.
Great post, Serge!
-B
Dan’s is a nightmare. Black Squirrel or Bourbon are better options. Anyone remember the Angry Inch?
Born here, live here, not stuck up…so wanted to agree with a few points other posters have pointed out.
DCA is easily the airport you want to fly into. BWI should be your backup plan, and Dulles only if you have to.
This article is actually pretty spot-on. PLENTY of nice places to eat now if you are a foodie, do some internet searching beforehand. You might also check the Living Social website. Their headquarters has a nice event space in the middle of China Town that hosts pop-up restaurants by some of the local big-wig chefs. Or even classes (cake decorating, food making) by chefs you’ve seen on tv.
Thank you for saying Ben’s is not all that it’s cracked up to be. It could be something you have to do because everyone else is doing it, but that’s pretty much the only reason in my opinion.
If you are the target demographic for this website, 14th & U NW is a great bet for you. Head 2 blocks in either direction on 14th…or down U to 9th street, or the other way up to 18th and Adam’s Morgan to find a spot you’d like.
Also H ST NE (between 11th and 14th) on Friday or Saturday night if you’re a tourist (it’s still pretty dead on most weeknights).
If you’ve done Eastern Market in the past, you can now do Union Market on the corner of Florida Ave and New York Ave.
Finally DON’T forget to remember what quadrant you are headed to if you don’t know DC. The city is split into NW, NE, SW, SE. Last thing you want is to be hanging out on 15th & Penn SE when you actually wanted to be between the W Rooftop Bar and the White House on 15th & Penn NW (although if this does happen to you, stop in at Trusty’s for a good dive bar experience, or Wisdom next door for some awesome cocktail creations and a shot of Absinthe…you can still reclaim this night).
Enjoy! Little Serow and Thai X-ing are so different. The former is higher concept while the latter is just a ton of great home cooked thai food. PACE YOURSELF!
I have yet to make it to Bluejacket but Churchkey (the bar associated with the brewery) is great and a wonderful addition to the DC beer scene.
On second thought Jaleo is probably a good pick. I’m tired of all the shared plate concepts popping up now but Jaleo does it really well.
I live a stone’s throw from Passenger and it’s tough to get in back there.
Great points. Living Social has a great event space and well worth it.
And personally I’d rather be at Trusty’s!
I think Ben’s is an experience and should be checked out more for the history than the food. Just temper your expectations. And yeah Pollo Rico is great (they have a couple locations but the one in VA square you mention is the one Bourdain hit up).
If you’re in DC, you must give Go-Go music a try. The percussion-heavy music began there in the 70s by Chuck Brown and while it never got national popularity, it is as DC as DC gets. I guarantee you’ll hear it bumping out of cars if you visit U Street or Florida Ave. Whenever I want to remember the feeling of DC, I’ll put on “We Need Some Money” by Chuck.
Edit: Why not just hear it here?
http://youtu.be/HssTYrncSTY
One more piece of advice–don’t talk bad about the Redskins to the locals unless you know what you’re talking about. No matter how bad they might be.
Ah the Angry Inch… which was like 4 other places before it became what it is now (Shenanigan’s ?). Too bad one of the best shut down – The Reef.
Also worth a mention: Jack Rose (closer to Florida, but still AdMo).
Missed this post yesterday or I would have commented sooner, but better late than never? I work in DC and live in Arlington and thought it would be nice for everyone to also know that DC has a thriving fitness community.
Putting the major races aside (MCM, Rock n Roll USA, Army Ten Miler, Nation’s Tri, etc…) DC is home to some of the country’s largest and most well established amateur sports clubs. National Capital Velo club is an amateur bike racing club with regular weekly rides that out of towners can join in with (relative) ease. Likewise, DC Tri Club is the second or third largest triathlon club in the country, and has regularly scheduled group swim, bike, and run workouts. If you’re in town and don’t want to drop your regular training routine, I promise you can find a friendly club here that’ll be glad to have you as a guest and will save you the trouble of finding your own pool/bike route/trail.
Can I throw in brunch at Mintwood on Columbia? The suckling pig dish is ridiculous (not a bad burger spot, either, if you’re into $17 burgers).
Now that’s how you look good while biking.
I’ll stick up for Chris and agree. Aside from enduring the obscenely overpriced, piss-poor service that awaits me every day on the Metro to get from Union Station to Dupont, the vast majority of me getting from one place to the next on any given day in DC is by foot. As a pedestrian, the biggest danger to my safety is cyclists (bike share or otherwise) who blow through stop signs and red lights like they’re getting paid to do so. It’s still obnoxious when cyclists do this when no one’s safety is at risk, but I’ve been nearly run over while walking through a crosswalk with a walk signal by a cyclist more times than I can remember. I get that cyclists are angry about aggressive motorists, but it seems like they channel that disregard towards pedestrians.
Also, don’t forget to check out Junkyard Band. “Sardines….”
You are probably right about Jaleo. The DC food scene owes a good deal to Jose Andres.
Jumping on the DCA bandwagon here. Easily worth the extra $$ in airfare! And if you DO choose to fly into IAD or BWI, you’d better be VERY thankful to anyone who is picking you up there, because one thing not mentioned in the article: DC area traffic SUCKS!
I absolutely agree with these additions, and am frankly surprised that DC’s beer scene was completely left out of the article!! For any beer drinkers out there, DC’s beer scene is pretty awesome. I’d highly recommend a trip out to Bluejacket – not much else around there worth seeing, but it alone is worth the trip.
I know us folks from DC are a bit tired of Jaleo, but it is a solid recommendation – and a big hit with anyone I’ve ever recommended it to. Zatinya by Jose Andres is also worth visiting for Mediterranean food.
Also Mintwood Place in Adams Morgan – one of the few, if only reasons to go there.
Ah, the Angry Inch – “the more you drink, the bigger it feels.” Many great times there back in the day.
Haven’t been to Mintwood but will definitely check it out.
Could not agree more. I personally would rather pay possibly $100 each way additional just to fly in/out of DCA.
Full disclosure, I live off the yellow line and within a stone’s throw of a metro stop. Even before, when I lived off the orange line, I have taken the bus to Dulles from both Falls Church and Rosslyn. I’ve also taken the Amtrak as well as gone to the end of the green line to bus it to Baltimore. I’ve picked up out of town guests from all three places.
At this point in my life, it is WELL worth it to fly in/out of DCA. I tell all my visitors to come into DCA. I find it terribly rude when I let a visitor know the distance away to the other airports and they still choose them to “save a couple bucks.” At what price? My personal time. Once it took me 3 hours (3!) to drive from my office in Chinatown to Baltimore to pick up a friend from the airport on a Friday as he was coming in town to catch a Redskins game with me.
Also, when it comes to Capital Bikeshare, unless you’re a big city biker to begin with, you’ll probably wind up overwhelmed by the traffic of riding a bike through the district. I’d recommend against it for suburban visitors especially. I ride it pretty frequently and haven’t shaken all the jitters from some of the DC drivers.
While the 14th St. / U St. corridor is definitely the hottest area right now, H Street is generally considered to be the next neighborhood to really blow up. Some of the best restaurants in the city are there – Toki Underground, Granville Moore’s, Sticky Rice – along with some really great bars. (And the Rock and Roll Hotel, one of the better smaller venues in the city, if smaller indie rock bands and hip-hop are your thing.)
It was just announced today that H Street is getting a Whole Foods so I’d say it’s already blown up. (posted by a bitter long time H Street resident)
You missed the best part of DC – oral argument at the Supreme Court! The beginning of the term (now) is a great time to go, since the lines will be almost nonexistent. Check the Court website or SCOTUSblog for argument schedule.
I have to defend Ben’s Chili Bowl. That place is great and the half smoke is amazing. If you don’t like lines go during the week. Also, if you want great pizza go to Matchbox in Chinatown.
Great list and good feedback in the comments. Only thing – no guide to DC is complete without a list of places NOT to go late at night. I’ve been on the streets of Anacostia after midnight and it’s an experience I won’t repeat.
A few things
Use DCA. Dulles is 30 miles out. Same with BWI. Prices for DCA flights are not more expensive.
NIghtlife does not have to be stuffy, just seek out the good spots; U St Music Hall, DC9, The Atlas District on H St NE, etc.
Amazing restaurants all around, but we have a recent James Beard Award winning chef, Johnny Monis, who has two restaurants, both of which are amazing. The higher end Komi, where a prix fixe and tasting will run you over $300 (worth it for the amuse bouche alone), and his smaller shop downstairs, Little Serow, which is a regional northern Thai cuisine, at $45 per person, family style. You have to wait in line, then you get texted when your table is ready (it can be a few hours, so go get your martini fix next door). Exceptional meal.
Last few favorites: CityZen in the Mandarin Oriental for the best dinner in town (Eric Ziebold who studied under Keller from the French Laundry), The sculpture garden on the National Mall for jazz and drinks, Blue Duck Tavern, The Passenger for stiff drinks, The Raven for shitty suds, Fiola for the best (and priciest) italian, The Source 9 course tasting and 1:1 pairing,
Other cities adopting bikeshare is irrelevant.
More bikes on the street means more traffic, because no cyclist EVER obeys the rules of the road. They will blatantly roll up to the front of a line of stopped cars, thereby slowing down everyone behind them because they can’t keep up with traffic. They run red lights. They never go the speed limit. Complete and utter disregard for traffic laws.
That’s regular cyclists. Tourists, who don’t know where they are going, no you are talking a whole different ballgame of inconvenience and danger… There is absolutely no “calming” effect. In fact, it does the exact opposite by raising the level of anxiety because of the disparity in vehicles.
Those are all anecdotes that don’t bear true. Regardless of those few cyclists who don’t obey the rules of the road, the vast majority do. What’s more, every cyclist on the road means one less car, which means LESS traffic. Bikes take up far less space than automobiles and, of course, cause less pollution. Your complaints are just windshield perspective from an entitled driver, not anything based in reality.
Oh, and the reason other cities adopting bikeshare is relevant is that it shows they see it as a successful program worthy of emulating.
Maybe your experience is different, but on any given day as a pedestrian while at work in DC, or at home in Baltimore, the vast majority of cyclists I see disregard traffic laws. The ones who actually follow the laws, again in my experience, are in a very small minority. Of all the times I’ve been nearly struck while walking in a crosswalk, it’s been a cyclist every time.
Anecdotal evidence and confirmation bias at work, Marshall.
It’s just an honest accounting of my experience. Nothing more, nothing less. You’ll note that I prefaced that last comment with the qualifier that your experience is different than mine in this regard. It doesn’t make either of our observations irrelevant or dishonest.
I don’t discount your experience, but I’m talking about documented overall data about the effects of increased bicycle usage in cities. Some cyclists are dicks, but so are many drivers and even some pedestrians. That doesn’t change the overall positive effects cyclists have on a city’s transportation system. It also doesn’t change the fact that while being hit by a cyclist can certainly injure a pedestrian, it is far far less likely to be fatal, unlike being hit by a car.
You are entitled to your wrong opinion. These anecdotes happen every single day (for me) and for tens (possibly hundreds) of thousands of other DMV commuters.
You logic is also impressively terrible. I could walk to work on the roads. I personally take up less space than a car. There would be once less car on the road! BUT my slow-paced inability to keep up with traffic would cause additional traffic thereby inconveniencing everyone around me. I’m not that selfish. Less cars =/= less traffic, when you replace a car with traffic causing alternatives.
People have to drive safely anyways, but I can trust that other cars will obey the rules of the road. I can not count on that when I have bikes passing me at stop lights. I want to make a right hand turn? I have to worry about a cyclist trying to snake past me in my blind side.
Re: road anxiety/calming effect — you believe everything you read on the internet? Willing to bet first born son that you are referencing a pro-cycling/green peace blog?
If there is anyone entitled, it’s bikers. I actually obey traffic laws. I would have way less of a problem with them if they did the same.
Chris, you provide nothing but your opinion, no facts. You can call me wrong, but it doesn’t make you right. And I can guarantee you there are as many scofflaw drivers as there are bikers, if not vastly more. Your confirmation bias is what prevents you from seeing it. The difference, of course, being that those scofflaw drivers are behind the wheel of a 2,000 pound death machine of glass and metal, whereas the cyclist is far more vulnerable.
Continue to be angry if you choose, but it doesn’t make you right.
http://iteamblog.abc7news.com/2007/05/bikes_vs_cars_c.html
The only one here with confirmation bias here is you.
Here’s one article exploring the collision rates for bikeshare systems: http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/06/16/from-london-to-d-c-bike-sharing-is-safer-than-riding-your-own-bike/ They have a better record even than cyclists riding their own bikes.
I don’t know what a “pro-cycling/green peace” blog is or why you threw that in as a dig. But there is a lot of data out there by traffic engineers and other experts, not just cycling enthusiasts, that confirms that more cyclists on the street is good for all street users. It’s important for cities to provide proper infrastructure for to make cyclists feel safer, and DC has made strides in that regard, but the overall effect is positive, even if it annoys a few entitled drivers.
The numbers in that piece are unreliable for a number of reasons, but you obviously won’t believe me. Suffice it to say that many police officers do not properly apply the law in these collisions (many don’t actually know the law), and many collisions go unreported, while drivers at fault are often allowed to go free with no charges when they cause a collision with cyclists.
“There are lies, damned lies, and statistics”
Fact of the matter is this. You will look at my statistics and call BS. I will look at your statistics and call BS. You have as much an axe to grind as I do. Your opinion and my opinion are fundamentally different. My personal experience (as echoed by several people here) is that twice a day I see bikers consistently without fail disregard traffic laws and create traffic. I don’t like them. You ride shotgun on my way to/from work, and I guarantee you won’t like them either.
Twice a day? Wow, that must be terrible. Take a look around you while driving today at your fellow automobile users. I can stand on any street corner in DC and in ten minutes I’ll see numerous drivers speeding, running red lights, blocking the crosswalk, talking on their cell phones, texting, making illegal u-turns, and any number of unsafe or illegal behaviors. And they’re doing this while driving a car, a vehicle that’s far more dangerous to both themselves and everyone around them than a bicycle would ever be.
I’ll pass on the offer to ride with you, thanks. I find it safer to avoid riding with people who get so angry at the simple fact that they have to share the road with other users.
I’m not disagreeing that there would be a huge environmental benefit if there were fewer cars on the road. But I’m going to bow out of this conversation because based on your other comments, you come across as the type of person who will always bring up aggressive motorists as a response to anyone being (legitimately) bothered by cyclists breaking the law. It’s always ‘yes, but….” Take care.
Marshall, I bring up aggressive motorists because cyclists are always held to higher standards, particularly by drivers, when all road users are guilty of bending or breaking laws. Suggesting that only cyclists should follow the letter of every law is not only unrealistic, it’s putting a high amount of focus on what is a smaller problem than many others that make our streets dangerous.
Yes, cyclists should follow the laws, but the rules of the road should also reflect that bicycles are not cars, and should not be treated exactly the same. There is great disparity in the way laws treat cyclists from city to city in the U.S.
Ok, let me step in here and try to broker a peace settlement. On a given week, I walk from my apartment to Penn Station in Baltimore, take the MARC train to Union Station in DC and then Metro to Dupont Circle. Everything in between during the week is on foot. Only on the weekends for grocery shopping, errands, etc., am I behind the wheel of a car. I don’t own or rent a bike, so I never ride one to get from point A to point B. So for the VAST majority of an average week, I’m using public transportation or my own two feet to get to where I need to be. I don’t have a dog in the motorist v. cyclist debate.
So that being said, let me offer up the following with the hopes of ending this…
Chris. Cyclists have every legal right to be on the road, and Bryant is obviously and rightly upset when motorists behave in an aggressive way that puts the safety of cyclists at risk. Even though I don’t ride a bike, I see motorists behaving dangerously and aggressively towards cyclists ALL the time when I’m walking to where I need to be. Cyclists running red lights does not give motorists a green light to act aggressively, no matter how much that behavior annoys you. (See what I did there with the red light/green light pun? Frickin’ awesome.)
Bryant. Again, you are right to be angry at aggressive motorists. But despite your noted protestations that different rules should apply to cyclists, running a red light is still against the law. As of right now, if the road is to be shared, everyone should follow the same set of rules. You have to realize though that when you imply that a pedestrian being hit by a cyclist isn’t as bad because the injuries likely to be sustained aren’t as bad as someone being hit by a car, that’s shitty. You need to admit that it’s shitty, and not say things like that again.
All that being said, let me propose that all of us, be we motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians, all follow the rules of the road and set a good example for everyone else. There’s no denying that we’d all be safer if we all follow the rules of the road.
Mic dropped. Lilly out!
Marshall: No. No, it’s not shitty to admit that being hit by a bike, which is almost never lethal, is less dangerous than being hit by a car. It’s not safe or pleasant, but they’re entirely different orders of magnitude, and admitting that isn’t shitty. It’s a fact.
Alright guys, I tried. Have a good night!
I vote for Church Key and Blue Jacket (recently opened).
Another vote for Union Market!
Libertine is good nearby choice as well.
Near Ben’s Chili Bowl is Oooh’s and Aaah’s. It doesn’t look like much (maybe even less than that), but great soul food, dirt cheap.
Re: Style. DC business attire is conservative, but not in a good way. Ill fitting suits, STKC’s, American flag ties, etc. are de rigueur. So yes, you can wear your suit, but if you want to truly fit in, don’t bother with the bright socks, pocket square or any other elements of flair. Just wearing a well fitting suit and rounded toe shoes will make you fashion forward enough.
You recommend flying into Dulles!? Absolutely horrible airport, and calling the 5A an ‘easy’ transportation option is just silly. Even LAX smashes on Dulles when it comes to accessibility.
Another hidden gem for going out is the Columbia Heights neighborhood – especially the 11th Street corridor. It’s very low key but has some good restaurants and bars, my favorite being Meridian Pint, which has very good food and an extensive all-USA craft brew tap selection. There are several other option in that neighborhood that are fun and not at all Adams Morgan-y.